Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-10-06


Where'd this paper come from?'
she demanded, as she took it from
Tad's hand.
Tad explained briefly.
First good I ever knew come of
keeping dog!' CURLY remarked Miss
Smith. "'Humph!'' continued the lady,
now somewhat excited, ''here's that
fellows name-if his name is Forrest
on the margin, and the notice has got
lead pencil mark drawn round it,
Don't that make it all plain enough?"
''All what, ma'am?' meekly returned
Tad.
"Why, that this Mr.. Forrest must
have seen the notice, and KEEP it to
himself, thinking that perhaps he could
wheedle you out of the bag for little or
nothing. and then get a big reward for
returnin' it," replied Miss Smith, with
triumphant snap of her gray eyes.
81 think there's more to it than that,
Miss Smith," said Tad, rising to his
feet. II think he's the same fellow
who tried so hard to get hold of it in
Boston. You see, a'am," continued
Tad, meekly, 81 amt so quick as some,
DUC F0 SCuuieO IL Oub hIuO VI 1lhS ILLS.
He somehow found out, in the first
place, that the tall gentleman who
owns it had jewelry, or whatever it is,
worth ever 80 much money in his sach-
ell, and just followed on after him to
get chance to grab it. Then I got
hold of it, and ever since he's been
| doggin' me. He's got a mustache,
and bran'-new teeth, and his voice is
| little different; but this afternoon l
found out something that makes me
pretty sure I'm right" And then Tad
told Miss Smith about the little blue
scar, that he had SO unexpectedly dis
covered.
".Well, Tad" observed Miss Smith,
after short astonished pause, you're
a smarter boy than I ever thought you
was, I'm free to confess. The-the-
deceptive critter!'' And, for moment
or two, it really seemed as though Miss
Smith was determined to sally forth,
and, single-handed, capture Mr.. For
rest, and drag him into the presence of
Square" Martin, the Bixport justice
of the peace. there to denounce him as
fraud of the first water.
But. upon cooler reflection, she saw
that, in reality, there was no visible
proof of any such charge, further than
Tad's own word. Even Captain Flagg
or Polly would hardly have recognized,
in the elegantly-dressed gentleman
with silky black mustache, the smooth
faced, shabby sharper who had tried
unsuccessfully to steal Captain Flagg's
money and papers on Commercial
wharf.
"Give rogue rope enough, and he's
sure to hang himself; so 1 guess we
won't say any thing for a spell
longer" finally said Miss Smith, to
Tad's great qualification.
But the good lady Immediately sat
down and wrote letter to y. H. A"
in relation to the sachel. and after
ward posted it with her own hands.
Furthermore, she had new lock put
on each of the outer doors, and even
went so far as TO have Tad clean and
load an old fiint-lock musket, that had
done good service at Bunker Hill,
which, to Samantha Nason's great
horror, she kept standing at the head
of her bed.
Il feel it in my bones that the fell
low'n make one more trial for that
sachel." she said, oracularly, ''for he
knows that what's in it is we'll worth
runnin' a big risk for; but, if he's
aware when he's wen of, he better
keep awayr'
Three days passed, and then Miss
Smith received an answer, to the effect
that ~. II. A" would be in Bixport on
the following day, and would do him
self the honor of calling upon Miss
Smith, at her residence, in the even
ing.
Things is coming to climax. Tad"
said Miss Smith, carefully tucking the
letter away in pigeOn-hole of the old
fashioned secretary in the front sitting
room, land I guess you'll get your five
hundred dollars reward. after al, and